Control device



Sept 24, 1957 w. E. BROWN ET AL 2,807,680

CONTROL DEVICE Filed Maron 17, 1954 2 sheets-sheet 1 l l W/ INVENTOR. William E. Brown BYHarold V. Ell/'oft His Attorney Sept. 24, 1957 w. E. BROWN ET AL CONTROL DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 17, 1954 IN V EN TOR.

. His Attorney -CONTRGL DEVICE -William `Brown Vand Harold V. fElliotnAnderson, [nd., assignors to General `Motors Corporation, Detroit, .Mich., al corporation of Delaware Application March 17, :1954, serialNo. 416,862

3 Claims. (Cl. .200-16) This invention Vrelates to a ycontrol device and is Vpar- -ticuflarlydirected to a combination switch for usein automotive vehicles and the like.

It is, therefore, the 'basic object of the invention to provide a combi-nation 4switch and vcontroller 4wherein novel switching means are provided in 4addition to a voltage controlling means Vwherein the electrical circuits between the controlling means .and the switch are established upon assembly of the device.

In carrying out the above object, it is a further object to provide a combination switch and rheostat forcertain of the devices controlled by the switch wherein a lsingle actuating means is provided Ywhich actuates .the switch through reciprocal movement and actu'ates the rheostat through rotary motion thereof irrespective of the lswitch position, means being lprovided for establishing electrical .Connections `,between the rheostat and the switch, during assembly thereof.

A still further object of the invention is directed to the construction of the device wherein two independent, circuit controlling devices are included and wherein lan insulating body is provided 'having apair of open cavities at one side thereof, circuit controlling means -being present in one cavity and a second independent circuit controlling means being adapted to be positioned in the other cavity. A closure .member 'having a clamping device in clamping relation with the second cavity is adapted to close the first lcavity while simultaneously clamping the second circuit controlling means in position with Yrespect to the insulating body.

'Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the 'following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein preferred embodiments .of the present invention .are clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. l Vis a plan view .of a combined switch and yr'heostat embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the switch shown 'in Fig. l partly in elevation .andpartly in horizontal section.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken on line 3-3 -of Fig. f1.

. AFig. 4 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

`Fig. 5 l.is a detailed plan view of a terminal and ,re-

.cept-aule `Shown in ,Fig- `1.

Fig. 6 is -a fragmentary view in section, taken on the i Fig. 7 is a View in section, taken on the line 7--7 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a view, partly in section, taken on line 8--8 of Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 2 of the drawings, 18 designates a channeled generally L-shaped bracket having two leg portions 20 and 21 wherein the channel is formed by a pair of upturned sides 22 on the leg portion 20 thereof. The bracket 18 is adapted to be attached to support Y United States Patent O Patented Sept. 24;, 1957 .arm 21 of the bracket 18 lfirmly against 'the Iface of support 23.

vThe arm 20 of the bracket supports a rheostat body 30 of insulating materiaglhaving lreduced portions 31 and32 which form Ashoulders `31a and 32a. The portion 31 is adapted :to .project through an opening 33 in .leg '20 so that the shoulder 31a rests thereon. The body .3'0 rotatably supports a anged bushing 34 which supports elements to be described hereinafter. The body 30 includes a groove formed concentrically in the body member 30 vand adapted to be arranged in concentricity vwith the bushing 34.

The arm 20 also forms a-closure for a switchcasing 40. lnthis instance, the casing 40 lisgenerally rectangular in iform having a -topwall 41, side walls 42 ,and 43 and end wall 44. The end wall 44 is .formed with a slot 45 arranged in alignment with the bushings ,25 and 34 when Vall of the .parts are assembled kupon the bracket. The casing 40 includes a pair of contacts ,50 which are electrically connected with ,one `another by a bracket 51 and a number of spaced stationary `contacts 52, 53 and 54 in parallel relation with the stationary contacts 50. The ,contacts .50, 52, Y53 and `54 are all .ush with the inner surfaces of the wall 41. The wall 41 lis extended beyond Yside lwall 43 .and the end wall r4.4 to .form a,p1at form 555. The wall 41 .and the platform 55 have .a plurality Aof `upright .walls or barriers 6 0 and an end wall 61 extending outwardly thereupon. The wall 61 .is formed with alaterally extending boss .62 having a recess or cavity 63 therein adapted to receive sand cooperate with the `reduced portion 32 .of `the ,body member .30 which is clamped .to the bracket 18 thereby when the various parts are assembled.

`The .upright Vwalls `6l) =form .a plurality .of individual compartments, l'four kof which .contain metallic receptacles 67 adapted to receive :spade-type terminals v68 (Fig. 5) and one of which includes a :fuse receptacle 69. The ,terminals and receptacles are electrically vconnected with .the various .contacts 52, 53, 54, etc., 'for example, -by riveting. T;he walls 6.0 -are provided to prevent -short circuits being caused by tools .or wires being laid .over the platform .55. These walls 60 .also improve the :insulating qualities of the structure.

Wit-hin the switch casi-ng 40 is a slidable contact or switch member carrying a spring pressed contactmern- Aber 76 which selectively contacts the contacts '50, 52, 53 and 54. vThe s'lidable-mem'ber 75 is controlled lby a rod `77 `which passes through and drivingly engages -`the bushing 34 and which 4thenpasses through Athe slot 45 Vin end wall 44 of the Acasing and iinallyengages the -slidable switch member 75. v,The end df the rod 77 includes lan annular kgroove '79 therearound into which snaps hook member 81 which is held in engaging position with the rod by an external spring 83 acting between the end 85 of the member 81 and a portion of the casing 40. A slot 81a of suicient extent is provided to accommodate longitudinal movement of the hook member 81 relative to the casing 40. Thus, when it is desired to remove the rod 77, the external end 85 of the hook member 81 is pressed inwardly against spring 83 so that hook-like end releases the groove 79 whereby the rod 77 may be pulled 3 outwardly from disengagement with slidable contact part 75.

Thus it will be noted that the rod 77 has a dual control function. By pulling the rod outwardly, it is possible to move the sliding switch member 75 into various switch contacting positions so that its slidable contact 76 engages the several switch contacts in the casing whereby the headlights, parking lights, etc., may be selectively controlled. Simultaneously, it is possible to rotate the rod 77 whereby the rheostat is controlled without changing the position of the switch member 75 since the rod may rotate in the hook member 81. The rheostat is generally in circuit with the dashboard lights.

It will be noted that when the bracket 18 is assembled to the casing 40 by means of screws S7, the sliding switch member 75 is yieldably held in position and that simultaneously, the rheostat 3l) is clamped between the bracket and the cavity or recess 63. Simultaneously, the cavity in the switch casing 4G which includes the slidable member 75 is closed. Thus assembly of the switch through assembly of the bracket holds the various parts in predetermined aligned position while simultaneously closing the open cavity portions thereof.

The switch mechanism may include a thermal circuit breaker noted at 39 which makes or breaks the circuit according to the load whereby when an overload is placed on any of the circuits passing through the switch, the bimetallic element of the circuit breaker 89 heats and breaks the circuit, reestablishing the same upon cooling.

Another detail of importance is the electrical connections between the rheostat and the switch. In this instance, a contact member extending through the switch casing 40 and molded therein is noted at 91. A second similar member also is included which is positioned so as not to be shown in Fig. 6. These contacts are bent downwardly as depicted and present a pair of contacting surfaces. The rheostat 30 (see Fig. 7), includes two spring ears 93 and 95 riveted or otherwise suitably connected to one end of a resistance coil 96 fitted within the groove in the rheostat 30 and to a rotor or contacting element 97. The spring ears 93 and 95 preferably include rounded portions at the free ends thereof so that when the portion 32 of the rheostat 3) is slipped within i the cavity 63 in the switch casing 40, the contacts 93 and 95 resiliently wipe and make Contact with the fixed members 91. When the bracket 18 is fixedly in secured position with the body member 40 and with the extending portion 31 of the rheostat in the aperture 33, the electrical connection is complete. It is apparent that when the rheostat is to be replaced or repaired, it is a simple matter to remove the bracket, slip the rheostat from its position, make the necessary repairs or adjustments and then slip the rheostat back into place whereby all electrical connections are reestablished without the necessity of the use of binding posts or other conventional connecting means.

Referring specifically to Figs. 7 and 8, the rotor 97 of the rheostat comprises a springy metal part 100 having a crescent shaped slot 102 therein with a depressed central portion 104 in the outer rim. This depressed portion 104 rides on the wire coil 96 as the rotor 100 is turned by rod 77 which is keyed thereto by means of the flat portion 106 thereto. The rotor is held beneath the flange of bushing 34 which is made of insulating material and is keyed thereto as noted in Fig. 8 by ears which extend in notches in the bushing. The opposite end of the bushing is serrated and circumferentially grooved so that a C-washer 198 may be snapped into the groove to hold the bushing 34 reasonably tight against any play. Any end play that does exist is taken up by the springy rotor 97.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that we have provided a combination switch which is easy to assemble and wherein the assembly of the bracket member closes the cavity including the switch means and simultaneously clamps the rheostat between the bracket and within thc locating cavity in the switch body. During this procedure, the electrical circuit between the rheostat and the switch means is established due to the springy nature of the contacts therebetween which are pressed into circuit forming position by propel' positioning of the rheostat by the bracket. This structure presents a compact, neat-appearing device which is easy to install and simple to servicc when the occasion demands. lt further provides a combination control including a multiple position switch, a rheostat in circuit with the switch for modifying one of the circuits passing therethrough, and a circuit breaker for protecting the entire device against overload. lt is apparent that the switch means may include more or less contacts than are shown and this particular modification is fully within the scope of our invention. Also, thc use of the circuit breaker and fuse is optional in accordance with the specific application of the device.

While the embodiments of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitute preferred forms, it is to bc understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

l. A circuit controlling structure including at least two independent circuit controlling devices, comprising in combination; an insulated body having first and second open cavities at one side thereof, a first circuit controlling means within the first of said cavities, a second independent circuit controlling means adapted to be positioned by the second of said cavities, a closure member having a clamping device adapted to be positioned in clamping relation to said second cavity and adapted to close the first cavity and to simultaneously clamp said second circuit controlling means in said second cavity and in position with respect to said body and means for attaching said member to said body.

2. The ystructure as claimed in claim l, including electrical connections between the first circuit controlling means and the second circuit controlling means formed integral with said body and effective to form a circuit therebetween when said second circuit controlling means is in clamped relation to said body.

3. The structure as claimed in claim l including :t control rod passing through a portion of said closure member and into engagement with the first and second circuit controlling means for selectively operating either of said means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,469,924 Kunz May 10, 1949 2,506,653 Soreng et al. May 9, 1950 2,512,788 Brown et al. June 27, 1950 2,619,557 Illian Nov. 25, 1952 

